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Resolution Conf. 10.8 (Rev. CoP14)

AWARE that all populations of bear species are included either in Appendix I or Appendix II of the Convention;

RECOGNIZING that bears are native to Asia, Europe, North America and South America and, therefore, the issue of bear conservation is a global one;

NOTING that the continued illegal trade in parts and derivatives of bear species undermines the effectiveness of the Convention and that if CITES Parties and States not-party do not take action to eliminate such trade, poaching may cause declines of wild bears that could lead to the extirpation of certain populations or even species;

RECOGNIZING that long-term solutions for the protection and conservation of bears require the adoption of substantive and measurable actions;

THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION

URGES all Parties, particularly bear range and consuming countries, to continue to take action to reduce the illegal trade in bear parts and derivatives by:

a) confirming, adopting or improving their national legislation to control the import and export of bear parts and derivatives, ensuring that the penalties for violations are sufficient to deter illegal trade;

c) strengthening measures to control illegal export as well as import of bear parts and derivatives;

d) initiating or encouraging new national efforts in key producer and consumer countries to identify, target and eliminate illegal markets;

e) developing international training programmes on enforcement of wildlife laws for field personnel, with a specific focus on bear parts and derivatives, and exchanging field techniques and intelligence;

f) developing bilateral and regional agreements for conservation and law enforcement efforts; and

g) sharing forensic technology to assist Parties lacking sufficient capabilities for the identification of bear parts and derivatives, and for examination of products labelled as containing parts and derivatives of bears;

RECOMMENDS that all Parties review and strengthen measures, where necessary, to enforce the provisions of the Convention relating to specimens of species included in Appendices I and II, where bear parts and derivatives are concerned;

RECOMMENDS further that Parties and States not-party, as a matter of urgency, address the issue of illegal trade in bear parts and derivatives by:

a) strengthening dialogue between government agencies, industry, consumer groups and conservation organizations to ensure that legal trade does not provide a conduit for illegal trade in parts and derivatives of Appendix-I bears and to increase public awareness of CITES trade controls;

b) encouraging bear range and consumer countries that are not party to CITES to accede to the Convention as a matter of urgency;

c) providing funds for research on the status of endangered bears, especially Asian species;

d) working with traditional-medicine communities to reduce demand for bear parts and derivatives, including the active promotion of research on and use of alternatives and substitutes that do not endanger other wild species; and

e) developing programmes in cooperation with traditional-medicine communities and conservation organizations to increase public awareness and industry knowledge about the conservation concerns associated with the trade in bear specimens and the need for stronger domestic trade controls and conservation measures; and

CALLS upon all governments and intergovernmental organizations, international aid agencies and non-governmental organizations to provide, as a matter of urgency, funds and other assistance to stop the illegal trade in bear parts and derivatives and to ensure the survival of all bear species.

*Amended at the 12th and 14th meetings of the Conference of the Parties.